The second Wizarding World park opened on Tuesday at Universal Studios Japan, and Harry Potter’s Evanna Lynch (Luna), Tom Felton (Draco), and J.K. Rowling were on hand for the celebration.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade celebrated its opening with a fireworks show and many fans. While the land is similar to the attraction found at Universal Orlando, the Japan version differentiates itself by including the Black Lake and real owls.

Check out this beautiful look at Hogwarts sitting on the water:

Photos from today’s grand opening show off a spectacular fireworks show as well as Felton and Lynch making their arrival. Click each image to see it full size!

According to The Telegraph, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling visited the new land with her family the day before the grand opening.

Said Rowling in a statement, “The craft and attention to detail across The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan is incredible and I will take away the memory of Hogwarts castle reflected on the Black Lake in particular. I’m delighted that Harry fans in Japan and around Asia can experience a physical incarnation that is so close to what I imagined when writing the books.”

Photos of the author’s visit can be viewed below (via Snitch Seeker). The second photo is particularly heartwarming as we see Rowling within Hogwarts – something we’ve never seen before from any of her visits to a film set or park.

Like Orlando, Japan’s Wizarding World includes the thrill ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, The Three Broomsticks restaurant, and shops like Zonko’s. No Diagon Alley attractions are in Japan.

Universal is also building a third Wizarding World at their Hollywood theme park which will be opening in 2016.

Its amazing for us fans to see this world brought to life. But imagine how it must be for Jo. 20 years ago, this was all just stuff in her head and now she can actually go visit it!

BookReader

It’s probably more real in her head :)

maggot

british fans cry from a far

AK-47

Is the Forbidden Journey ride in English or Japanese?

Winkyxx

This is awesome.

RussellTurner

Florida needs the black lake!

http://through-the-untempered-schism.tumlr.com/ SnatcherGirl

yes it does! Unfortunately, that’s unlikely to happen because the plan going forward is that each park will have it’s own exclusive element. Right now that’s the black lake (and a castle with stairs, it appears) for Japan, Diagon Alley and Dueling Dragons for Orlando, and a rumored great hall for California.

formerUOattractions

Orlando has stairs with moving paintings too actually – it’s part of the Express queue that isn’t currently in use. It will eventually be used for that purpose but currently allows ‘students’ to let their friends and family skip the outdoor part of the queue. :)

http://through-the-untempered-schism.tumlr.com/ SnatcherGirl

Awesome! I’d heard that the tour only line showed even more of the castle, but I didn’t realize there were stairs….haha so excited now, will have to check it out when I go in a few weeks, thanks!

http://flynn-rider.tumblr.com Robbie

The picture of Hogwarts on the Black Lake…oh my GOD that’s beautiful

Aqua

Anybody want to feed the GIant Squid?

Eric Faulkner

If I remember right Universal Studios Japan has some rides that have closed in Orlando. If you were a fan of Jaws and Back to the Future they still have those rides.

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